Early liver cancer: Concepts, diagnosis, and management

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a major health problem worldwide. The prognosis of patients depends on the stage when the disease is diagnosed. For the early detection of these tumors, both the selection of patients at high risk and effective surveillance programs are important. When the tumor is diagnosed early, patients can choose potentially curative treatment, including surgical resection, transplantation, and ablation therapy. Here, we give an overview of the present management of hepatocellular carcinoma. Further studies in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention are required to achieve the best clinical management of this disease. © The Japan Society of Clinical Oncology 2005.